The Billion Dollar Wife

#14.

She went rigid, her spine turning to stone against the heat of Dominic’s palms. Every nerve in her body ignited where his skin met hers, a traitorous reaction she couldn't suppress.

"I didn’t—I didn’t..." she began, her voice a mere splinter of sound.

"Didn’t say what, Ava? Come now, speak up. The truth is usually much louder than a whisper." Dominic’s hands tightened around her waist, his fingers digging into the fabric of the shirt with a force. He pulled her closer until the buttons of his own waistcoat pressed against her, erasing the last shred of distance. There was nowhere for her to retreat, no place to vanish into.

She could only stare at him blankly, her eyes wide and dark with a mixture of terror and a strange, burgeoning heat she didn't want to acknowledge. Dominic didn't look away, instead, his gaze began a slow roam, lingering on the curve of her mouth before returning to her eyes.

"If you are as innocent as you claim," he growled, the vibration of his voice buzzing against her own chest, "then what could possibly possess you to trick your way into the life of a man like me? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? An innocent lady in the den of a lion. You’ve walked into the path of a madman, Ava."

She tried to respond, her lips moving in a silent murmur, but the words refused to form. Her mind was a chaotic storm of Dominic’s scent.

His hands began a slow, agonizing roam over the lines of her body, tracing the curve of her hip with a touch that was both a caress and a threat. Her breath hitched again, a sharp, audible gasp that can be heard in the quiet room.

"Are you really a virgin, Ava?" he whispered, his voice dropping into a husky tone. "Or is this just another layer of the lie? Another performance for the benefit of the man you’re trying to ruin?"

He bent his head, his mouth hovering just beside her ear, his warm breath ghosting over her skin. "I would very much love to ravage you," he confessed, the words dark and heavy with intent. "Being my wife gives me the privilege to do exactly that. To be your first man. To hear you cry out my name in the dark of this house."

He straightened slightly, locking his eyes onto hers once more. The intensity in his gaze was suffocating. "But I’m a man of patience, Ava. I’ve waited years for my enemies to fall, I can wait a few more days for you. I will wait until I uncover every damn thing you’re hiding. Until I know exactly who I’m taking to bed."

Without another word, he released her. The sudden loss of his warmth felt like a chill. He turned and walked away, his footsteps steady as he disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.

Ava clutched her chest, her heart a drum against her ribs. She staggered back toward the dining table, her legs feeling like they might buckle at any moment. "What just happened?" she whispered to the empty room, her voice shaking. "What is he doing to me?"

She gripped the edge of the table, the wood cool under her palms. "I’m not supposed to be carried away," she scolded herself, the memory of her brother’s cold eyes providing a sudden clarity. "I’m supposed to stick to the plan. He is the enemy. Nothing has changed."

She looked toward the doorway where he had vanished, a flicker of something she couldn't name crossing her face, before she turned and ran back upstairs to the safety of her room.

*****

Morning came quickly. Ava remained huddled under the duvet, listening with a strained intensity for the sounds of the house. She waited until she heard the distinct thud of the front door and the distant roar of Dominic’s car fading into the street. Only then did she move.

She freshened up with a speed, her movements devoid of their usual grace. She chose her clothes, simple, functional, and nondescript. Finally, she dove into the depths of her bag and pulled out the vellum folder. The estate documents felt heavy in her hands, a manifestation of her betrayal. She tucked the folder into a large designer bag, checking the hallway twice before stepping out of her room.

Downstairs, the house was a hive of quiet activity. She approached one of Dominic’s men, a tall, silent figure stationed near the garage entrance.

"The keys to the Mercedes," she commanded, her voice holding a sharp edge of authority she had learned to mimic.

The man hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the security cameras. "Ma'am, the Boss mentioned—"

"I don't care what the Boss mentioned," Ava snapped, her frustration boiling over. "I have errands to run and I don’t require a chaperone. Give me the keys or I’ll ensure he hears about your incompetence the moment he returns."

The guard stared at her for a long moment, weighing the risk, before he finally reached into the cabinet and handed over the fob. Ava didn't thank him, she let out a low, bitter curse under her breath and climbed into the car. She drove away from the estate with a reckless urgency, the luxury of the vehicle feeling like a cage she was desperate to escape.

She stopped at a small, unassuming cafe of the city, a place where the scent of burnt coffee and cheap tobacco provided a stark contrast to the lilies and cedar of the mansion. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on a man sitting in the far corner, his face partially obscured by a newspaper.

She slid into the seat across from him, her bag clutched tightly in her lap. They exchanged the briefest of pleasantries—stiff, rehearsed words that carried no warmth.

"Do you have it?" the man asked, his voice low and urgent.

"I have it," Ava replied. She reached into her bag and pulled out the folder, sliding it across the laminate table.

The man opened it, his eyes scanning the documents with a grim satisfaction. He nodded slowly, looking up at her with a flicker of something that might have been pride. "You’ve done a great job, Ava. Better than we expected. But you mustn't get carried away. I know the kind of man Dominic is. He’s persuasive. He’s powerful. But you cannot forget why you are there."

Ava looked down at her hands, which were resting on the table. "I haven't forgotten."

"Good," the man said, leaning forward. "Because he’s the one who got your brother killed. A man like Dominic... the law doesn't touch people like him. He’s too rich, too protected. The only way to get justice, the only way to truly destroy him, is from the inside. You are the weapon, Ava. Don't let the weapon go dull."

Ava nodded, the weight of the mission settling back onto her shoulders. The man reached across the table and pulled her into a brief, stiff hug. It was a gesture of solidarity, but it felt cold.

"I have another plan," he whispered into her ear, his breath smelling of stale coffee. "Another mission for you within that house. It’s going to be harder than the last, and the risks are... significant. But I know you can do it. You have to do it for him."